The Brewers have acquired infielder Oliver Dunn from the Phillies, per an announcement from the latter club. Dunn has been added to Milwaukee’s 40-man roster, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, bringing their count to 37. In exchange, the Phillies receive outfielder Hendry Mendez and infielder Robert Moore. Notably, Dunn was set to be Rule 5 eligible but the other two players were not. Today is the deadline for selecting players to prevent them from being eligible in the Rule 5 draft.
Dunn, 26, was an 11th-round selection of the Yankees in 2019 but went to the Phillies last year. He was the very last pick in the minor league phase of last year’s Rule 5 draft, with the Phils making three more selections after every other team gave up.
He then played 119 Double-A games in the Phillies’ organization in 2023, hitting 21 home runs and stealing 16 bases. He struck out in 27.5% of his plate appearances but also walked 16.2% of the time. His .271/.396/.506 batting line translated to a wRC+ of 148 while playing second base, third base and left field. He then went to the Arizona Fall League and hit .343/.455/.616 in 88 plate appearances there.
Dunn would have been Rule 5 eligible again next month but it seems the Phils didn’t have a spot for him, or perhaps were debating the decision until they were able to work out this deal, nabbing a couple of guys who won’t be Rule 5 eligible until 2025.
Mendez, 20, was an international signing out of the Dominican Republic, getting a bonus of $800K from the Brewers in 2021. Prior to this deal, he was considered the #25 prospect in the Brewers’ system by Baseball America, who note that he has strong approach at the plate but a concerning lack of power. He has nine home runs so far in his 856 minor league plate appearances, including three this past season.
Moore, 22 in March, was just selected 72nd overall in the 2022 draft. The son of executive Dayton Moore, he got into 123 High-A games in 2023 and hit .233/.321/.361 for a wRC+ of 94. He played second base, third base and shortstop. BA has him ranked #20 in the system.
For the Brewers, they’re giving up a couple of long-term prospects coming off underwhelming seasons in order to add a guy who can bolster their infield depth immediately. They are set to have Willy Adames at shortstop, though his name has come up in trade rumors. They also have Andruw Monasterio, Brice Turang, Rowdy Tellez, Abraham Toro, Owen Miller, Jahmai Jones and Vinny Capra as options on the 40-man to cover the infield spots, with Dunn now added into that mix.
Phillies need the 40 man roster spots for moves they are planning. So getting back 2 prospects for a guy who profiles as a UTL guy is nice move
JonathonLucroyStan Robert Moore is underrated. You should be happy.
Phillies aren’t Dunn making moves yet!
I can’t believe it took two players to make it a Dunn deal.
This could be a very interesting move, I hope the Phillies and Brewers get also to sit to discuss the potential trade of Corbin Burnes to the Phills
I think the Brew crew won this one, the one thing Dunn seems to be able to do now is rake and offense is something the Brewers lack. Give me a 16% walk rate with a +wRC of 154 in double-A. Risk worthy
Okay…… arms arms and more arms. That’s what this team needs
Will Dave Dombrowski fulfill his legacy and bring the Phils faithful their beloved home town hero, Mike Trout? If it’s ever going to happen, this is the off-season. Here me out, the Phillies could make two trades that could put them right back into the World Series. A lot depends on Aaron Nola, who loves being a Phillie and is an extremely underrated starting pitcher of this generation. He’s also the longest tenured Phillies player. If Nola doesn’t take the 175-200mil “home town discount”, let him walk and take the pick. Use that money and offer it to Josh Hader, not Blake Snell. Snell isn’t the right fit here in my opinion.
Brewers acquire:
G. McGarry RHP
M. Moore RHP
S. Muzziotti CF
Phillies acquire
C. Burnes SP
O. Miller INF
If Nola DOES sign, offer that same package to the Brew Crew for Devin Williams.
Now the fun one:
Angels acquire:
N. Castellanos OF
T. Walker SP
D. Hall 1B
C. Brogdon RHP
F. Morales RHP
H. Crouse LHP
Phillies acquire:
M. Trout LF
R. Detmers SP
The Angels would never do that deal without a top pitching prospect going back you’re thinking ? Bet you they would if the Phillies agreed to take on ALL of the remaining $260mil of Trout’s contract. Plus they are replacing him with a star (Castellanos), who worked tirelessly to improve his OF defense during his time here. And a rotation stabilizer (Walker) as they “retool” instead of rebuild. Darrick Hall gives them a LH power bat. Anaheim was quite proud of how they turned Mickey Moniak around so, maybe they feel they can do the same with some formerly high regarded Phillies pitching prospects.
Trout becomes the LF, Marsh/Rojas in CF, Harper in RF vs RHP, 1B vs. LHP- allowing Pache to play RF vs lefties.
If Rhys Hoskins takes a pillow contract, Harper can play RF full time. If not, you replace Rhys with an Eric Hosmer veteran type, or allow Kody Clemens another crack at one side of the 1B platoon. Or they could get really crazy and sign Matt Chapman, moving Bohm to 1B.
Regardless, they can fill out the roster with another RH reliever- Jordan Hicks or Joe Jimenez, plus another starting option on the cheap that could be a swing man- Lorenzen or Tyler Mahle. The rest of the team is set, but will DD bring us Trout? If it’s ever going to happen, now is the time.
We want no parts of Trout in Philly
H. Crouse is a minor league free agent and Joe Jimenez just resigned last week with the Braves. Plus, it was Harper’s decision to play 1st base next season.
Thank you, I’m just catching up on the off-season stuff. Hypothetical, replace Crouse with Andrew Baker or Nick Nelson. Castellanos and Walker’s contracts going back would lessen the blow of the Trout contract in the short term, so we can still add complimentary pieces.
Morales isn’t in the system anymore either.
McGarry, Moore, Muzzonitti isn’t bringing back Burnes. You’re looking at Abel and Crawford headlining a return for Burnes. Something like Abel, Crawford, 1 of Bergolla/McFarlane/Caba, and 1 of Segura/Nikau-Grego/Aldegheri for Burnes.
For 1 year of Burnes? No thanks I’d rather keep Abel I think and Crawford definitely not.
That’s fine, but the market for similar SP makes that the type of package it’s going to take to get Burnes.
I disagree. It’s 1 year of Burnes. 2 top pitching prospects seems way too high. Perhaps 1 and a bat.
Based on the recent trade returns for SP with similar control, Burnes should command a top 50 prospect in baseball/player equivalent, another top 100 prospect in baseball/player equivalent, and another piece or 2 further away based on the quality of the front of the trade. AJSS and Waldrep are the only prospects the Braves have to satify the first part of the trade. They have some player equivalents, but Grissom isn’t one of them.
The Brewers would laugh in your face and hang up
You think the Angels are going to take on Castellanos contract in a trade to send away Trout? If they trade Trout, it’s going to be a money motivated deal, looking to bring on prospects at the same time. They’d surely have much better offers than your proposal where they didn’t take on a player with negative trade value in the process. Also, Brewers would also be able to get 3 prospects for Burnes alone in any deal without including Owen Miller, who while he doesn’t hold much value, provides depth at several positions.
Both your proposals are just clearly wanting the Phillies to acquire stars. It’s good to dream. But unrealistic trade proposals aren’t much more than that.
I hope not.
The old 6 for 2 trade is reminiscent of the 5 for 1. But…I’d do it for Trout. Why not!
Jesus Brewers are desperate for any kind of offense
dirk, Blessed be the name of Jesus Christ. Taking His name in vain added nothing to your post. It actually detracted from your message and was completely unnecessary.
Get outta here with that religious crap bucko
I believe the correct play here would be to turn the other cheek. Just sayin’.
I read that as a name “Jesus Brewers”
He might be desperate for offense.
Jesus Christ,lighten up Francis
Brewers have always valued depth
AFL guy who had a good fall so he gets an opportunity in the MLB next year. The two traded away probably would not see big league time
Since Dunn was subject to the rule 5 draft prior to this deal..could MKE have simply waited and snagged him that way, or was he likely to be gone before their selection (do the even have 1?) or what am I missing here?
They could have, but they can option him to the minors with the trade.
Oh right, because if they selected him in the rule 5 he’d need to be on the big league roster all season, correct?
Yes.
Excited for the young man Dunn. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of opportunities he gets with the Crew under Murphy. Toro didn’t get many looks either, and if I remember correctly he had good numbers in the Mariners farm system before we nabbed him. Playing the lottery basically…
Glad to see the Phillies are having dialogue with Milwaukee. Burnes, D. Williams, even Yelich- would all look good in red pinstripes.
why would you want yelich & that contract?
traded Dunn for Moore room on the 40 man roster which is 37.
Potentially a sneaky good pickup.
Phillies were like “Sorry, buddy, we Dunn have a spot for you” 😛